Health Benefits Of Aloe Vera

When you burned yourself as a kid, a parent may have come running with aloe vera juice to apply to your wound. Sometimes it would be squeezed directly from the plant, and other times the juice would come from a bottle. Either way, it would soothe your burn quickly. That’s probably the last time you thought about aloe vera. But today, this ancient substance mentioned as far back as in the Bible is being plugged as a key ingredient in health food stores and even in energy drinks at the corner store. Its popularity is at an all-time high as consumers are beginning to understand its health benefits.

What is aloe vera?

Most commonly found in Africa and the Caribbean, aloe vera is a plant that belongs to the succulent species — like a cactus, it holds liquid to survive in hot, dry climates. Aloe has a unique appearance: It has little or no stem and its leaves are long spear-like spikes, protected by serrated edges. Aloe vera is the most common of the 400-plus varieties of the aloe species.

Aloe vera helps on the outside

Though it’s far from being the type of mystery elixir sold door-to-door by shady businessmen of bygone eras, the variety of uses for aloe vera is impressive. It’s most famously used to treat burns by reducing inflammation and providing quick cooling relief. If you have an aloe plant, you can simply cut the end off one of the pointed leaves and smear the gel-like interior onto your wound. You can also peel the outer layer off a leaf and apply it directly to the skin.

If you’re not as creative and want to simply buy the aloe gel or juice, you can dab these substances onto your burn. Aloe is equally effective at treating precise burns (such as those caused by a hot element on the stove) and general burns (such as sunburn). Its healing properties don't end there: Any skin contusion such as a scrape, cut or rash can also be treated with aloe. There is also some evidence that shows applying aloe juice or gel to acne will help to bring about a smoother complexion.